By BONIFACE AKARAH

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has urged the Nigerian Army to move beyond treating data management as a record-keeping exercise and begin using data as a strategic tool for intelligence gathering, operational planning and military decision-making.

The Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, gave the charge while delivering a keynote presentation titled, “From Data to Decision Advantage: Digital Transformation, Artificial Intelligence, and the Future of Warfare,” at a Data Management and Record-Keeping Seminar organised by the Army Headquarters Department of Military Secretary in Abuja.

Abdullahi said properly managed and analysed data could provide the military with actionable intelligence and strengthen its operational advantage in modern warfare.

He urged the Army to adopt Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a strategic and tactical tool for defence operations, noting that AI-driven analysis could improve the speed and accuracy of decisions at both command and battlefield levels.

“We need to look beyond just using data for record-keeping to start thinking of using data management for intelligence and strategic military operations,” Abdullahi said.

He added that AI could help the military process large volumes of information and turn them into useful intelligence for operational decisions.

“Today, we can use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to help us collate, analyse, verify, and apply data in our military operations,” he said.

The NITDA DG said the rapid transformation of the global defence industry through technology made it necessary for Nigeria's military to integrate emerging technologies more deeply into its security and defence operations.

He also stressed that successful digital transformation requires attention to people, processes and technology, urging the military to rethink how technology is adopted across its institutions.

Abdullahi further called for the development of dedicated defence digital infrastructure and data centres, noting that the Nigerian military currently relies on partnerships with civilian entities to develop defence technologies.

He encouraged the Army to strengthen collaboration with government agencies and Nigeria's indigenous technology ecosystem to develop locally driven defence solutions.

“The Nigerian Army has to consider ways of collaborating with other government agencies and the indigenous tech innovation ecosystem to build defence technology that can help us defend our nation,” he said.

On capacity building, Abdullahi said military personnel must acquire stronger digital skills to fully take advantage of data and AI capabilities for tactical and operational purposes.

He announced that NITDA would provide training and capacity-building initiatives to equip military personnel with relevant digital skills for the emerging data- and AI-driven defence environment.

As modern warfare becomes increasingly driven by information and technology, NITDA says Nigeria's military must transform data from a tool for documentation into an asset for intelligence, strategy and faster decision-making.

•PHOTO: Director General, NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, making a keynote presentation at the 4th edition of the Nigerian Army Headquarters Department of Military Secretary Data Management and Record-Keeping Seminar in Abuja.